Hi,I have been invited to an interview for a small company who specify that the dress code is smart casual. Will people just turn up in suits anyway or go smart casual?

It's an interview.Wear a suit

ring them up and ask?

What is your perception of smart-casual? What consultancy are you having the interview? If they say smart-casual, then why would you turn up in a suit?? Don't turn up in a suit if they want you to turn up in smart-casual. In my experience, if you did, even after I have specifically asked you to be smart-casual, then I'm going to be thinking this guy/gal can't "let her/his hair down" and is a right ... Wear a clean ironed shirt, pressed trousers and buffed shoes. Leave the tie at home, the beer cufflinks and multi-coloured socks. Sounds plain, but that is smart but casual. Leave the jacket/coat, unless it is wet/windy. Have a leather binder holding only a notepad, a working pen and your updated CV. Hope this helps.

For any interview, regardless of the dress code, wear a suit. Always.

Agreed, smart casual is for employees, not prospective employees

Blunt,You mentioned that I should take a working pen. Should I enquire whether there is an interview dress code for the pen? Would a working pen be similar to a "working" girl? Or have a I misunderstood?Can I hire such a pen on an hourly basis?Oh crumbs - I'm getting all hot and bothered - so many variables.....

Yes, working pen. Now if you haven't figured that out then you better returning back to stacking baked bean tins at your local Lidl :)The amount of times I have interviewed people who turn up without a working pen. I offer advice and this is how you return it. I have a few interviews in the coming weeks, lets hope you are one of them :)

Suit. Suit. Suit. Suit. Don't be an idiot. Wear a suit. It is a display of respect for the person interviewing you and their company. My company specifies that interviewees can wear smart casual if they like; Just interviewed someone last week not wearing a tie; I was not impressed.

The answer is simple; wear a suit.You should be dressing to show respect for the person you are meeting with, the work, and yourself.

You are showing yourself to be a bunch of corporate stiffs.It depends on the culture of the company in question. In some sectors (such as the first company I worked in after university), turning up in a suit is a good way not to get the job.

I agree. I always interview the person, not the suit/clothes.I had one guy turn up in full biker's leathers and he still got the job because he was polite/friendly and good at what he did. In a perverse kind of way, only somebody who is really good at what they do would have the confidence to truly 'be themselves' during an interview. I liked it because it showed he was human yet still knew his stuff and was approachable, not a corporate zombie.But in general, not everybody thinks like I do so you're probably best off wearing a suit as you can't to too far wrong that way.